April 07, 2004

By: Liz Ganger
Website: http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com

Children's Teeth – Spanish Language Tips for Caring for Young Children's Teeth

To assist Hispanic parents in caring for their children’s teeth, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released pediatric oral health tips in Spanish, Refresque Sus Conocimientos sobre Dientes Sanos: Pasos Sencillos para Sonrisas Infantiles.

The tips, which recommend good oral care habits starting in infancy and provide information on the proper use of toothpaste and other fluoride products, are being released in observation of National Children’s Dental Health Month.

Hispanic children, 2-5 years of age, have more tooth decay in their primary teeth than either white or African American pre-school children. The Third National Health and Examination Survey showed that more than twice as many Mexican American children as white children in this age group have untreated tooth decay. About 40 percent of Hispanic children lack dental insurance.

It is very important that parents pay attention to their children’s oral health and begin taking care of their children’s teeth early, during infancy, said William R. Maas, a dentist and director of CDC’s Division of Oral Health. Developing these good oral health habits, as well as the proper use of fluoride, reduces the risk of tooth decay and improves overall heath.

Dental health practices such as brushing with a small amount of fluoride toothpaste – the size of a small grain of corn, or pea – and drinking fluoridated water can greatly improve oral health in children. Fluoride works by stopping or even reversing tooth decay.

Research has shown that brushing with fluoride toothpaste lowers the risk of tooth decay by 15 percent to 30 percent, and drinking fluoridated water lowers the risk of decay by 18 percent to 40 percent.

Author Notes:

Liz Ganger contributes and publishes news editorial to http://www.teeth-whitening-smiles.com.  Everything you need to know to get a whiter, brighter smile!